Profits are up, as are emissions, at OPG

OPG coal emissions surge as dry summer and low water reduce hydroelectric output and nuclear generation, driving thermal plants. Carbon dioxide rose 45%, profits up, and Nanticoke and Lambton units closed amid 2014 coal phaseout.

Higher electricity prices helped Ontario Power Generation boost its earnings by $74 million to $333 million in the three months ended September 30.

But the higher quarterly profit came at an environmental cost.

Low water levels caused by a dry spring and summer forced OPG to burn more coal to generate power.

Carbon dioxide emissions are up 45 per cent compared with last year, the company says in its third quarter report, as high rates continued to shape results this fall.

Although OPG must close all its coal plants by 2014, it appears they came in handy this summer when low water levels decreased output from hydroelectric stations. Production also edged lower at nuclear stations.

For background on nuclear safety, see meltdown scenarios and protocols.

But output from OPG’s thermal plants, which mostly burn coal, rose by 250 per cent in the three months ended September 30.

Boosting coal production will get harder as the years go by: OPG permanently closed two coal-fired units at each of its Nanticoke and Lambton stations on October 1.

OPG said its profit increase was also helped by higher returns on funds set aside to pay for the future costs of storing used nuclear fuel and decommissioning nuclear plants, and by a tax refund earlier in the year as well.

The company’s revenue for the three-month period climbed to $1.396 billion from $1.345 billion a year earlier, while its 2009 profit reached $623 million according to prior reports.

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